Automatic cutting device for cathode steel bar in overhaul of aluminum electrolysis cell

Abstract

The utility model provides an automatic cutting device for a cathode steel bar in the overhaul of an aluminum electrolysis cell, which is used for a tool trolley assembled at the upper end of a corresponding cradle bracket supporting plate in a guiding and moving manner along the length direction of the electrolysis cell, the tool trolley comprises a trolley frame, and the trolley frame comprises a left side plate and a right side plate which are positioned on two sides of the cradle bracket supporting plate; the trolley frame further comprises a top plate arranged at the tops of the left side plate and the right side plate, and trolley walking wheels matched with the upper ends of the cradle support supporting plates are arranged at the bottom of the top plate. The tool trolley is erected above the cradle support supporting plate, the cutting mechanism is located on one side of the cathode steel bar, the height of the cutting mechanism is adjusted by starting the adjusting mechanism, the cutting mechanism is made to be close to the cathode steel bar, accurate positioning is achieved, and then the cutting mechanism is started to cut the cathode steel bar. And meanwhile, the tool trolley is controlled by the driving mechanism to move, so that the cathode steel bars in other arrangements are cut in batches, and the cutting efficiency is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of aluminum electrolytic cell overhaul technology, specifically an automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during aluminum electrolytic cell overhaul. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most of the 400kA-600kA and other types of electrolytic cells in production have entered their major overhaul period. Enterprises are facing the problem of major overhaul of electrolytic cells. The focus of major overhaul of electrolytic cells is for enterprises to repair the damage, defects and hidden dangers of the lower structure of the cell based on the actual operation of a cell and take advantage of the downtime. This requires going through the following steps: cleaning the cell lining material, building the lining, roasting and starting up the cell, and then resuming production. During the major overhaul of the electrolytic cell, it is necessary to cut the cathode steel rod in order to lift the waste cathode out of the cell.

[0003] Aluminum electrolytic cells are core equipment in the aluminum metallurgical industry, and cathode steel bars, as key components, directly affect the conductivity and lifespan of the electrolytic cell. Traditional cutting processes rely on manual labor or semi-automatic equipment, resulting in low efficiency, poor precision, significant safety hazards, and high labor intensity. As the aluminum industry transforms towards intelligent and efficient operations, existing technologies lack dedicated automatic cutting equipment for the cathode steel bar structure during aluminum electrolytic cell overhauls. There is a need for an integrated, highly adaptive, and precise cathode steel bar cutting device. To achieve accurate positioning, safety, and high efficiency, this device utilizes PLC servo control and precision guide rails, achieving a positioning accuracy of ≤0.5mm. It dynamically adjusts cutting speed and pressure, employing laser cutting. Safety measures are paramount, especially in industrial environments. Detailed specifications are provided for mechanical and electrical components, emergency shutdown procedures, and routine maintenance to ensure long-term operation. Currently, domestic aluminum electrolytic enterprises perform approximately 60 cell overhauls annually, requiring monthly shutdowns for these processes. Therefore, improving the efficiency of cathode steel bar cutting is crucial. Automated cutting can shorten downtime and extend the overhaul cycle of electrolytic cells.

[0004] In summary, adopting automated control cutting technology can reduce the risk of workplace injuries and decrease labor intensity. Therefore, developing efficient, precise, and safe automated cutting devices is crucial for driving technological upgrades in the aluminum industry and reducing production costs. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during the overhaul of aluminum electrolytic cells, which aims to solve the problem of low cutting efficiency caused by the reliance on manual or semi-automatic equipment in the traditional cutting process of the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during aluminum electrolysis cell overhaul, used to guide and move a tool trolley mounted on the upper end of a corresponding cradle support plate along the length of the electrolysis cell. The tool trolley includes a trolley frame, which includes a left side plate and a right side plate located on both sides of the cradle support plate. The trolley frame also includes a top plate disposed on the top of the left side plate and the right side plate. The bottom of the top plate is provided with trolley wheels that cooperate with the upper end of the cradle support plate. Anti-deviation wheels are provided between the opposite sides of the left side plate and the cradle support plate. The trolley frame is provided with a drive mechanism for driving the trolley wheels. The tool trolley also includes a cutting mechanism for cutting the cathode steel bars. The left side plate is provided with an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the cutting mechanism.

[0007] Preferably, the driving mechanism includes a first motor fixedly mounted on the upper end of the top plate, the first motor driving the walking wheel to rotate via a belt, a first rack fixedly mounted on the upper end of the cradle bracket support plate along the walking direction of the tool cart, and a first gear fixedly mounted on the walking wheel that meshes with the tooth surface of the first rack.

[0008] Preferably, the cutting mechanism includes a mounting plate, a laser emitter is slidably disposed below the mounting plate, a cutting nozzle is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the laser emitter, and a positioning mechanism is disposed on the mounting plate to drive the laser emitter to reciprocate in the front-back direction.

[0009] Preferably, the mounting plate has a T-shaped groove at the bottom, and the laser emitter has a T-shaped slider at the top that cooperates with the T-shaped groove.

[0010] Preferably, the positioning mechanism includes a second motor fixedly mounted on the upper end of the mounting plate, one end of the output shaft of the second motor extending out of the bottom of the mounting plate and coaxially fixedly connected to a second gear, and a second rack fixedly connected to one side of the laser emitter and meshing with the tooth surface of the second gear.

[0011] Preferably, the adjustment mechanism includes a third rack fixedly mounted on the upper end of the mounting plate, a limiting block provided on the left side plate, a sliding groove matching the third rack provided on the limiting block, a third motor fixedly mounted on the limiting block, and a third gear meshing with the third rack after the output shaft of the third motor extends into the limiting block.

[0012] Preferably, the left side plate is provided with a guide rod for guiding the mounting plate.

[0013] Preferably, a cutting guard plate is fixed to the side of the mounting plate away from the cradle bracket support plate.

[0014] Preferably, the electrolytic cell is provided with a smoke exhaust box, the air inlet end of the smoke exhaust box is connected to a smoke exhaust pipe, and the air inlet end of the smoke exhaust pipe passes through the mounting plate and faces the cutting nozzle.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0016] 1. When using this utility model, during the overhaul of the electrolytic cell, the tool trolley is mounted above the cradle support plate, and the cutting mechanism is positioned on one side of the cathode steel rod. The height of the cutting mechanism is adjusted by starting the adjustment mechanism to make the cutting mechanism close to the cathode steel rod, achieving precise positioning. Then, the cutting mechanism is started to cut the cathode steel rod. At the same time, the tool trolley is moved by the drive mechanism to perform batch cutting of other arranged cathode steel rods, greatly improving the cutting efficiency.

[0017] 2. When this utility model is in use, by setting up a smoke exhaust box, the waste smoke from the cutting nozzle can be drawn into the smoke exhaust box through the smoke exhaust pipe, and then discharged after being filtered by the internal filter plate, thereby reducing the harm of waste smoke to the human body. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, several embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation, and like or corresponding reference numerals denote like or corresponding portions, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a specific embodiment of the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a side view structural diagram of a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a specific embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 1 Enlarged structural diagram at point A;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a specific embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point B;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a specific embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 2 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point C.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Electrolytic cell; 2. Cradle support plate; 3. Cathode steel rod; 4. Smoke exhaust box; 5. Trolley frame; 6. First motor; 7. First rack; 8. Smoke exhaust pipe; 9. Traveling wheel; 10. Belt; 11. Limiting block; 12. Third motor; 13. Third rack; 14. Guide rod; 15. Mounting plate; 16. Second gear; 17. Laser emitter; 18. Cutting nozzle; 19. Second rack; 20. Cutting guard plate; 21. Anti-deviation wheel; 22. Second motor; 23. Right side plate; 24. Top plate; 25. Left side plate. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The accompanying drawings show preferred embodiments of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.

[0027] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0028] like Figure 1-5 As shown, an automatic cutting device for cathode steel rods 3 during the overhaul of an aluminum electrolytic cell 1 is characterized by: a tool trolley for guiding and moving along the length of the electrolytic cell 1 and mounted on the upper end of the corresponding cradle support plate 2. The tool trolley includes a trolley frame 5, which includes a left side plate 25 and a right side plate 23 located on both sides of the cradle support plate 2. The trolley frame 5 also includes a top plate 24 disposed on the top of the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 23. The bottom of the top plate 24 is provided with trolley traveling wheels 9 that cooperate with the upper end of the cradle support plate 2. Anti-deviation wheels 21 are disposed between the opposite sides of the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 23 and the cradle support plate 2. The trolley frame 5 is provided with a drive mechanism for driving the trolley traveling wheels 9. The tool trolley also includes a cutting mechanism for cutting the cathode steel rods 3. The left side plate 25 is provided with an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the cutting mechanism.

[0029] In this embodiment, a cradle support plate 2 is fixedly installed inside the electrolytic cell 1 along the arrangement direction of multiple cathode steel rods 3. During the overhaul of the electrolytic cell 1, the tool trolley is placed above the cradle support plate 2, and the cutting mechanism is positioned on one side of the cathode steel rods 3. The height of the cutting mechanism is adjusted by starting the adjustment mechanism so that the cutting mechanism is close to the cathode steel rods 3 to achieve precise positioning. Then, the cutting mechanism is started to cut the cathode steel rods 3. At the same time, the tool trolley is moved by the drive mechanism to perform batch cutting of other arranged cathode steel rods 3, which greatly improves the cutting efficiency.

[0030] like Figure 4 As shown, the drive mechanism includes a first motor 6 fixedly mounted on the top plate 24. The first motor 6 drives the walking wheel 9 to rotate via the belt 10. A first rack 7 is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the cradle support plate 2 along the walking direction of the tool trolley. A first gear that meshes with the tooth surface of the first rack 7 is fixedly mounted on the walking wheel 9.

[0031] In this embodiment, by starting the first motor 6, a first belt 10 wheel is provided on the output shaft of the first motor 6, and a second belt 10 wheel is provided on the shaft of the traveling wheel 9. The first belt 10 wheel and the second belt 10 wheel are connected by a belt 10. When the first motor 6 starts, it drives the traveling wheel 9 to rotate, thereby driving the first gear to rotate. When the first gear rotates, it moves on the rack, thereby driving the tool trolley to move stably, so as to perform batch cutting of other arranged cathode steel bars 3, which greatly improves the cutting efficiency.

[0032] like Figure 5 As shown, the cutting mechanism includes a mounting plate 15, a laser emitter 17 is slidably disposed below the mounting plate 15, a cutting nozzle 18 is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the laser emitter 17, and a positioning mechanism is disposed on the mounting plate 15 to drive the laser emitter 17 to reciprocate in the front-back direction. The positioning mechanism includes a second motor 22 fixedly disposed at the upper end of the mounting plate 15, a second gear 16 is coaxially fixedly connected to one end of the output shaft of the second motor 22 after extending out of the bottom of the mounting plate 15, and a second rack 19 that meshes with the tooth surface of the second gear 16 is fixedly connected to one side of the laser emitter 17.

[0033] In this embodiment, when the high-energy-density laser beam generated by the laser emitter 17 is irradiated onto the surface of the cathode steel rod 3, it is rapidly absorbed by the material and converted into heat energy, causing the temperature at the irradiation point to rise sharply. This allows the steel to reach its melting point or even boiling point in a very short time, thereby achieving localized rapid melting or vaporization to achieve cutting. By starting the second motor 22, the second gear 16 is driven to rotate, which in turn drives the second rack 19 to move. The second rack 19 is fixed to the laser emitter 17, which can drive the laser emitter 17 to move back and forth within a small range, accurately positioning and cutting the cathode steel rod 3.

[0034] like Figure 5As shown, a T-shaped groove is provided at the bottom of the mounting plate 15, and a T-shaped slider that mates with the T-shaped groove is provided at the upper end of the laser emitter 17.

[0035] In this embodiment, a T-shaped slider is provided on the laser emitter 17 so that it can slide on the bottom of the mounting plate 15 without falling off.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the adjustment mechanism includes a third rack 13 fixedly mounted on the upper end of the mounting plate 15, a limiting block 11 on the left side plate 25, a sliding groove matching the third rack 13 on the limiting block 11, a third motor 12 fixedly mounted on the limiting block 11, and a third gear meshing with the third rack 13 after the output shaft of the third motor 12 extends into the limiting block 11.

[0037] In this embodiment, by starting the third motor 12 to drive the third gear to rotate, the third rack 13 and the mounting plate 15 are moved downward until the cutting nozzle 18 is close to the cathode steel rod 3, so as to achieve precise positioning.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, a guide rod 14 for guiding the mounting plate 15 is provided on the left side plate 25.

[0039] In this embodiment, the guide rod 14 is provided to ensure the smooth movement of the mounting plate 15, the laser emitter 17, and the cutting nozzle 18.

[0040] like Figure 5 As shown, a cutting guard plate 20 is fixed to the side of the mounting plate 15 away from the cradle bracket support plate 2.

[0041] In this embodiment, the lower edge of the cutting guard plate 20 should be lower than the height of the cutting nozzle 18 to prevent the high-temperature flying debris generated when cutting the cathode steel rod 3 from overflowing and damaging the cathode steel rod 3 in areas that should not be cut.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, an exhaust box 4 is provided on the electrolytic cell 1. An exhaust pipe 8 is connected to the air inlet end of the exhaust box 4. The air inlet end of the exhaust pipe 8 passes through the mounting plate 15 and faces the cutting nozzle 18.

[0043] In this embodiment, a fan is installed inside the smoke exhaust box 4, which can draw the waste smoke from the cutting nozzle 18 into the smoke exhaust box 4 through the smoke exhaust pipe 8, and then discharge it after filtering through the internal filter plate.

[0044] Working Principle: During the overhaul of electrolytic cell 1, the tool trolley is placed above the cradle support plate 2, and the cutting mechanism is positioned on one side of the cathode steel rod 3. The tool trolley is equipped with a PLC controller connected to the first motor 6, the second motor 22, and the third motor 12. Based on the cutting position information, the PLC controller automatically starts and stops the first motor 6, the second motor 22, and the third motor 12. Starting the third motor 12 drives the third gear to rotate, thereby moving the third rack 13 and the mounting plate 15 downwards until the cutting nozzle 18 is close to the cathode steel rod 3, achieving precise positioning. Then, by activating the laser emitter 17, the high-energy-density laser beam generated by the laser emitter 17 irradiates the surface of the cathode steel rod 3. The laser beam is rapidly absorbed by the material and converted into heat energy, causing the temperature at the irradiation point to rise sharply. This allows the steel to reach its melting point or even boiling point in a very short time, thus achieving localized rapid melting or vaporization for cutting. Simultaneously, by starting the second motor 22, the second gear 16 is driven to rotate, which in turn drives the second rack 19 to move. The second rack 19 is fixedly connected to the laser emitter 17, which can drive the laser emitter 17 to move back and forth within a small range, accurately positioning and cutting the cathode steel rod 3. By starting the first motor 6, the first motor 6 drives the output shaft, which is equipped with a first belt 10 pulley. The shaft of the traveling wheel 9 is equipped with a second belt 10 pulley, and the first belt 10 pulley and the second belt 10 pulley are connected by a belt 10. When the first motor 6 starts, it drives the traveling wheel 9 to rotate, which in turn drives the first gear to rotate. When the first gear rotates, it moves on the rack, which in turn drives the tool trolley to move. The anti-deviation wheel 21 set between the opposite sides of the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 23 and the cradle bracket support plate 2 ensures the stability of the tool trolley when it moves, so as to perform batch cutting of other arranged cathode steel rods 3, which greatly improves the cutting efficiency.

[0045] In the foregoing description of this specification, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "fixed," "installed," "connected," or "joined" should be interpreted broadly. For example, the term "joined" can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or it can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Therefore, unless otherwise expressly limited in this specification, those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0046] Based on the above description in this specification, those skilled in the art will also understand that terms used, such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "length," "width," "thickness," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "clockwise," or "counterclockwise," are terms indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings of this specification. They are only for the purpose of facilitating the explanation of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not imply that the device or element involved must have the specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above-mentioned orientation or positional relationship terms should not be understood or interpreted as limitations on the present invention.

[0047] Furthermore, the terms "first" or "second," etc., used in this specification to refer to numbers or ordinal numbers are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating, explicitly or implicitly, relative importance or specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this specification, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during the overhaul of an aluminum electrolytic cell, characterized in that: A tool trolley is used to guide and move along the length of the electrolytic cell (1) and is mounted on the upper end of the corresponding cradle support plate (2). The tool trolley includes a trolley frame (5). The trolley frame (5) includes a left side plate (25) and a right side plate (23) located on both sides of the cradle support plate (2). The trolley frame (5) also includes a top plate (24) set on the top of the left side plate (25) and the right side plate (23). The bottom of the top plate (24) is provided with trolley wheels (9) that cooperate with the upper end of the cradle support plate (2). Anti-deviation wheels (21) are provided between the opposite sides of the left side plate (25) and the right side plate (23) and the cradle support plate (2). The trolley frame (5) is provided with a drive mechanism to drive the trolley wheels (9) to move. The tool trolley also includes a cutting mechanism for cutting the cathode steel rod (3). The left side plate (25) is provided with an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the cutting mechanism.

2. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during the overhaul of an aluminum electrolytic cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving mechanism includes a first motor (6) fixedly installed on the top plate (24). The first motor (6) drives the walking wheel (9) to rotate through the belt (10). A first rack (7) is fixedly installed on the upper end of the cradle bracket support plate (2) along the walking direction of the tool cart. A first gear that meshes with the tooth surface of the first rack (7) is fixedly installed on the walking wheel (9).

3. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during aluminum electrolysis cell overhaul according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cutting mechanism includes a mounting plate (15), a laser emitter (17) is slidably disposed below the mounting plate (15), a cutting nozzle (18) is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the laser emitter (17), and a positioning mechanism is disposed on the mounting plate (15) to drive the laser emitter (17) to reciprocate in the front-back direction.

4. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during the overhaul of an aluminum electrolytic cell according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mounting plate (15) has a T-shaped groove at the bottom, and the laser emitter (17) has a T-shaped slider at the top that cooperates with the T-shaped groove.

5. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during aluminum electrolysis cell overhaul according to claim 4, characterized in that, The positioning mechanism includes a second motor (22) fixedly installed on the upper end of the mounting plate (15), with one end of the output shaft of the second motor (22) extending out of the bottom of the mounting plate (15) and a second gear (16) coaxially fixedly connected thereto, and a second rack (19) fixedly connected to one side of the laser emitter (17) and meshing with the tooth surface of the second gear (16).

6. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during aluminum electrolysis cell overhaul according to claim 5, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism includes a third rack (13) fixedly mounted on the upper end of the mounting plate (15), a limiting block (11) provided on the left side plate (25), a sliding groove matching the third rack (13) provided on the limiting block (11), a third motor (12) fixedly mounted on the limiting block (11), and a third gear meshing with the third rack (13) after the output shaft of the third motor (12) extends into the limiting block (11).

7. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during aluminum electrolysis cell overhaul according to claim 6, characterized in that, The left side plate (25) is provided with a guide rod (14) for guiding the mounting plate (15).

8. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during the overhaul of an aluminum electrolytic cell according to claim 7, characterized in that, A cutting guard plate (20) is fixed to the side of the mounting plate (15) away from the cradle bracket support plate (2).

9. The automatic cutting device for cathode steel bars during the overhaul of an aluminum electrolytic cell according to claim 8, characterized in that, The electrolytic cell (1) is provided with a smoke exhaust box (4), and the air inlet end of the smoke exhaust box (4) is connected to a smoke exhaust pipe (8). The air inlet end of the smoke exhaust pipe (8) passes through the mounting plate (15) and faces the cutting nozzle (18).

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